Railway-track-laying machine.



No. 694,564. Patented Mar. 4, |902. H. MANN.

RAILWAY TRACK LAYING MACHINE.

(Application led Feb. 12, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

H; MANN.

RAILWAY TRACK LAYING MACHINE.

(Application med Feb. 12. 1901,;

(No Model.)

Patented Mar..4, |902.

-2-Sheets-Sheet 2.

Il' i. 9' 71' E n: Noams PETERS co., Fnoraumo.. wAsmnoToN. rz c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

HUGH MANN,`oF WINNIPEG, CANADA.

RAVI LWAY-TRACK-LAYING MACH I N E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 694,564, dated March 4, 1902.

Application filed February l2, 1901. Serial No. 47,075. (No model.)

.T0 @Z whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUGH MANN, railroadl contractor, of the city of Winnipeg, in the county ot' Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RailWay-'Irack-Laying Machines, ofwhich the followingis aspecication.

My invention relates to improvements in track-laying machines; and the object of the invention is to devise a machine of this class by Which the track may be laid more securelyT than at present and without surface kinks and in a minimum amount of time and with but a minimum amount of labor; and it consists, essentially, of a pilot-car, rail-cars, and tie-cars arranged in succession, thepilot-car being provided with a crane which projects forwardly of the car and is suitably braced and supported and also with a rail-delivery platform extending outwardly underneath the crane from the end of the car and partially supported by such crane, the crane being supplied with ties from the tie-carsv by means of overhead carriers and the platform being supplied with rails from the rail-cars from cross-bars on the rail-cars located underneath the tiecarriers, and the parts being otherwise arranged and constructed in detail as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure lis a general perspective viewshowing my improved track-'laying machine and some of the various cars which serve to make up the machine in its entirety. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective View of the end ofthe pilot-car, showing the crane and tie-carrier and the rail-delivery platform. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective detail showing the connections between the cars for the tie-carriers and also the rail-carriers. spective detail showing the carriers for the tie-cars. Fig. 5 is a detail of the swinging support for the crane and the meansfor operating the same. Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the crane and carrier.

In thedrawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each ligure.

A is the'pilot-car, B the rail and tie supply cars, and C the tie-car.

A is the frame of the pilot-canon the top of which are 'supported the longitudinal tim- Fig. 4. is a perbers a a, which rest at one end on the crossbar a' and at the opposite end on the crossbar a2. The cross-bar a is supported and secured on the uprights D, which are securely held at the bottom in the frame of the car and are braced by the side diagonal braces D. AAt the top of the cross-bar a. I provide the converging bars or beams E E, Which are suitably secured at the bottom to the top of the cross-bar and are connected together at the top by the metal straps e and e', through which extends the central bolt e2.

F is the crane, Which comprises the side bars F F, which are supported at the front end of the pilot-car by the uprights G G. The uprights G G are secured at the bottom to the segmentsg g, which have a limited movement Within the segmental slots g' g', suitably held and secured at the top in the floor of the car. The side pieces F consist of three pieces fff, the central piece being preferably depressed, so as to form a groove f (see Fig. 6) to carry the carrier-chains, hereinbefore referred to. The said pieces fare made in several lengths, as Well as in three thicknesses, and are suitably and preferably connected together lona gitudinally by plates f2. The pieces f f f are also suitably bolted together. The pieces F F' are connected together by cross-pieces F2, located at suitable distances apart from end to end, and by the tie-rods 5.

' F3 F3 are struts extending from underneath the side bars F of the crane to the uprights G, and f3 f3 are braces extending between the side bars and struts.

F4 F4 lare braces extending from the struts to the bottom of the uprights G G. Theinner end of the side bars F are connected to the top of the uprights G by the metal plates 3 3.

F5 is a supplemental crossbar which extends underneath the crane,near the outer end thereof, and is provided with end eyestraps f5, from which extend the converging hogchains f6, which are fastened at the inner end around the central bolt e2. Intermediate of the length of the hog-chains I provide the separating-bars 4, through the ends of which the chains extend and which serve to keep the hog-chains separated sufiiciently at the for- Ward end, so as to permit of the passage of the ties, as will hereinafter appear.

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II is the delivery-platform for the rails, which is pivotally connected by the bolt hat the front of the platform of the car and. fits in a segmental recess a2, the sides of which are designed to limit ythe swing of the platform. The forward end of the platform is supported by means of a clevis h', connected by the double chain h2 to the bottom of the crane at any suitable point.

The platform H is provided with suitable side bars h3. Opposite the platform H and extending throughout the length of the train of cars upon each car and at suitable distances apart are located the feed-rollers I for the rails, journaled in suitable sockets or recesses t'. Opposite the ends of each of the grooved rollers and at each side are located the cross-bars I', which are designed to receive the supply of rails.

ff7 are hog-chains, which are connected to the rear end of the pilot-car and to the bolt ezat the top of the framework at the front end thereof and which are spread intermediate of their length by the spreading-bars 7 in order to permit of the passage of the ties.

J are the delivery-chute at the end of the crane, which comprise the boards j, which are secured to the end cross-piece F2 at one end and secured to the cross-bar j near the opposite end. The chute is supported by means of the side bracesj7 which are secured to the end of the side piece F and to the ends ofthe cross-bar j. This chute delivers the ties from the ends of the crane into proper posi tion on the road-bed, as will hereinafter appear.

K K are endless carrier-chains which run at the top in the grooves f and pass over the end sprocket 7a at the forward and suitable end sprockets 7c at the opposite end. The carrier-chains are provided with carrier-iingers 7a2, located, preferably, about two feet apart. The sprockets 7s are secured to the end spindles 7c5 and the sprockets 7c' on the end spindle 7.34. The spindle 7a4 is provided with a sprocket 705, which is connected by a sp1ocket-chain le to a sprocket-wheel k7 on the spindle Z, journaled at the end of the longitudinal bars a a.

I may here state that in the crane F the central pieeefis cut away in order to permit of the insertion of the sprocket-wheel, and this is also the case in reference to the longitudinal bars a, which are also composed of three bars a5 a5 a5, which are cut away at the end to receive the sprocketwheels Z Z', secured on the spindle Z.

Z2 is a sprocket-wheel which is connected by the sprocket-chain Z3 to a sprocket-wheel Z4, secured on the spindle Z5, journaled in suitable standard bearings on the floor of the car.

M is a sprocket-wheel secured on the spindle Z5 and connected by a sprocket-chain m to a sprocket-wheel N on the axle of the car. It will thus be seen that the carrier-chains K derive their movement from the axle of the car, as do also the endless carrier-chains L,

which pass in the central groove formed between the members of the longitudinal crossbars.

0 are upright-s secured in suitable sockets 0 at the sides of the car and supporting at the top the cross-bars O. The cross-bars, it will be noticed, are located at suitable distances apart and support the longitudinal bars a, which carry the chains L' and are exactly similarly formed to the chains L and are driven by suitable central sprockets Z7 and Z8, connected by the sprocket-chains Z.

O2 are uprights supported in suitable sockets o' on the sides of the car and provided at the top with the cross-bars O5, which support the longitudinal bars A5, which in this case are preferably on an incline and provided with sprocket-chains L2,connected and driven from the sprocket-chains L identically the same as such chain is driven from the sprocketchain L. The lower end of the chains L2, however, extend in proximity to the tie-car G. All the three chains L, L', and L2 are endless pairs of'chains and are provided with carriers in pairs opposite each other.

In order to support the ties upon the tiecars and remove the same therefrom, I provide the following mechanism: P P are 1ongitudinal bars suitably supported and connected together and extending over the ends of the carrier-chains L2, such longitudinal bars P P-being held over the carrier-chains by the braces p p. The longitudinal bars P P are exactly similarly formed to the bars A5, hereinbefore premised, and are provided at the overhanging end with the spindle p', which carries the side sprocket-wheels 192132 and the central sprocket-wheel p5, which is connected by the sprocket-chain p4 to the sprocket-wheel p5, secured on the spindle p5,

which carries the sprocket-wheels of thechains L2.

P' P are the endless chains which pass over the longitudinal bars P P and over the end sprockets p2 p2. It willbe seen from what has been before premised that these chains P' are driven at the same rate as the chains L2 and are provided with suitable carrier-iin gers p51. The bars P are supported at their inner end in the longitudinal reeessesp1G in the floor of the car, which serve to hold the inner ends in place and yet permit of them sliding longitudinally as the cars swing in relation to each other in going around a curve.

I provide on each side of the space between the ends of the longitudinal bars a and a5 the longitudinal supplemental bars a5,which are supported on the spindles Z8 of the sprocketwheels at one end and rest on the spindle Z of the sprocket-wheels at the opposite end. These bars serve to bridge over the space between the cars and support the ties as they pass over such space, such ties of course being carried by the central sprocket-chain Z5, provided with suitable carrier-fingers, as indicated. (See Fig. 3.) I provide similar bars between the ends of the longitudinal bars IOS lIO

I- tionalbarsvc"c,which*are formed in three the-sprocket-idlers gli Y The ends of' thechai'nr pieces f similarlyto the longitudinal bars-a and provided with a central groove-in a like manner. The bars do are provided with vertical slots c and bolts extending'therethrough provided with thumb-nuts c2. The endless' chainsrQ extend alongthefc'entral groove of the' bars-and are supportedatthebottom by Q pas'saroundv the sprockets l'qvand'qz, the sprocket-'wheels q2 being secured on the spin; dle g3, vsupported ins'uitablebearings 'qt --A sprocket is also provided, whereby through the'means of a sprocket-chainiqmotion-:is`

` conveyed to'such'sprocket-wheel qfrom a sprocketf'on thef aXleof the car, a platform R extending along each side of the carand.

isof greater'width thereof, being supported on'the laterally;extendingcross-bars?, ntl tingin ysuitable sockets Win the'longi'tudinal beams CY. These platforms'-'are'fintended for the passage of the men, andvit will be-under stood that such cars areusuallyfoffthe sameV width as' the ties, that they permit of the pasL sagefof 'the' men outside the pathY of=the` ties.

It isV essentiallylimportant `that the crane v F is provided with means'for-swinging-it,so that the ties may-be' laidvvon acurved roadbed, andin order'to eifect this I'sufpportg as hereinbefore premised, the uprights G upon the segmentsw/,Whichare suitably supported in thelseglnental slots gv. {See-Fig.' 5;)5

In order Y"to provide Ifor vthe swingof the crane, I provide at the bottom of one oftheH segmental'pieces g-aracky2, 'attached to or forming. part of the segmental piecegS-is a worm, the spindles of whichare supportedin suitable bearing-brackets g4 'orr the platfornof thecar. The spindle'gfv of-"theworm isI provided Awith a bevel-'pinion gxwhichris enf gaged by the bevel-piniong7 onvthe end ofthe vertical spindle Ag8, whichVv is preferably operated by 'a-crank-handle gf. vIt will` thu'sf be seen 4'that by manipulating-the handle Q91 the swing ofthe crane over tothe o ne sideforfthe other maybe elfe'ctedrvery simply.- A In order to providealsupplementalV meansforholdingthe crane rigidly in any positionin which: it may be swung'. or placed, -I' 'pro-f vide-at the topthesemicircular-ban'd S,Which is suitablysecured at'the top of the uprights G. I also-provide on -thestationaryportion of the frame a coacting se'micir'cularband T, y' for-med substantially U -shaped impress-sec tion and provided'with friction-rollers t, u-po'n whichthe band S swings.v Upon thestationarysemicircular portion T, Lalso provide the bracketsT, in the' outer ends of Which-is se#A cured the vertical spindlez, onwhich is'piv:V

otedY the clampingleverifz, having the enlarged'camlshapedend t3, whereby by the manipulation of the lever the semicircular band S may beheld in any desiredposition, and consequently .thecrane to which itis attached. lVThe-.ties on-the tie-cars,.of which there maybe any number, are supported on the' longitudinal beams C. uThe'men at the. front end of thecar pass the ties onto the endless chain L2, whence they are 'carried'on over the lchains L'f L andfout by the chains Kfwhere they pass over the endof the crane and onto the delivery-chuteJ .The Vspeed of the chain -is preferablyregulated vso :asto be equal to the speed ofthe train, and'there'- .fore the ties are laid at equaldistances apart and in practice at two feet apart,.asith\ecarriers on the. trainI are so placed.7 The rails on the rail-feeding rollers I1 arecarried-foriv Ward at the same' time over suchlrollersand delivered'from` the platform H andprefera'bly -placed` on-the ti'esin-the manner which it is @not-necessary here to 'describ'ey As' soon'asv thefirst ties 'are taken fromithedongitudin'a'l' beams C the menwho take-theend 'of thetiesV 'as they proceed alongto the rear end ofrthe car iirstrpass `theties uponthe suppleinen'talv chainv Pf. `VVhenJtheyhaveproceeded'still fartherback toward the-rear, theyscan :raise'i the sectionaly side"- bars C,1.so aslto bringfthe carrier-fingers above .the levelof the beam' C', where 'su'chf beams are free' Tof .the ties, and: then can place the'next block' or uprightjties-or rows' of ties' uponthe carrier-chains Q, .which` carry Ithe m forwardtothe carrier-chains P', thence to the carrier-chains L2, and s0 unt-il, the' end ofv the car'is"rea'ched., when' pra'ctically thef'same .syste-m ofY feed is provided from c ar tocar, so 'that vthe endless chainst extend from the rearmost car to the endlofthe crane* on the front `end 'of f the pilot-car, thus.

saving-an-'immens'e' amountof Vhandling:and

providing a quick and rapidmeanso'f su pply-f ingtheties to the proper lcon structionlpointny TherailS, as hereinb'eforepremised, arefalso carriediunderneath th'eties system'aticallyby f -the'rollersfanddelivered Yto the A'properfcon-A rstruction-pointalso. f' `f 1 What I claim as my invention is'-' 1T A track-laying machinecomprisinlg a ed .at the frontend andl extendingforwardly .of the same '.over'the r-road-b'ed, and. endless' Vcarrier-ohains extendingifrom endft'o end of thecranefand provided: with?carrier-fingers designed tolconveyihe'ties to theroad^bed` and the delivery-chute comprisillgfthe longiri" ytudinal 'boards securedfto -the'end cross-*piece of thec'raneand .connectedil tgetherlatthe lower''endby a-cross-pieceand the side'bracing-barssecured to theendof suchicross-piece` and to'the-endlof Jtlie side fbarsof the'crane as and'for the: purpose specified- 1- lr 21A traclrf'laying machin-efcomprising a 'apilot-car, an` inclined crane suitably. supported at the yfron-t end and extending forwardly of thesame over theLroad-bedand endless carrier-chains extending from end to end of the crane and provided with carrier-fingers designed to convey the ties to the road-bed and the track-delivery platform located underneath the crane and supported at the inner end on the end of the pilot-car and means for supporting it at the outer end from the crane as and for the purpose specified.

3. A track-laying machine comprising a pilot-car, an inclined crane suitably supported at the front end and extending forwardly of the same over the road-bed, and endless carrier-chains extending from end to end of the crane and provided with carrier-fingers designed to convey the ties to the road-bed, a suitably-elevated frame on the pilot-car and carrier-chains on such frame for conveying the ties from the rear of the pilot-car to the carrier-chains of the cranes and the rail-carrying rollers located in the center of the fioor of thecar and extending longitudinally on a line with each other, and the rail-delivery platform at the forward end of the caras and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination with the crane and elevated frame on the pilot-car and the carrier conveying-chain suitably driven, of the raildelivery rollers located on the floor of the car beneath the carrier-chains and the deliveryplatform located on a line with the same and extending over and connected to the end of the pilot-car as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination with the pilot-car having the rail-delivery rollers suitably secured thereon in the center of the car, of the raildelivery platform suitably secured to the end of the car on a line with the delivery-rollers and means for supporting the outer end thereof as and for the purpose specified.

G. ln a track-laying machine, the combination with the pilot-car provided with uprights at one end secured at the bottom to the frame of the floor and the cross-bar spanning the top and provided with lower braces and upper converging bars or beams having a central bolt extending through the convergingpoint, of the crane supported at the inner end on the upright bars and suitably braced thereto and the endless carrier-chains passing over the side bars of the crane-frame and means for supporting the outer end of the crane from the pilot-car as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a track-laying machine, the combination with the pilot-car provided with uprights at one end secured at the bottom to the frame ofthe Hoor and the cross-bar spanning the top and provided with lower braces and upper converging bars or beams having a central bolt extending through the convergingpoint, of the crane supported at the inner end on the upright bars and suitably braced thereto and the endless carrier-chains passing over the side bars of the crane-frame, the supplemental cross-bar extending underneath the outer end of the crane, the hog-chains conncctcd to the ends thereof and to the central bolt of the converging beams and the supplemental hog-chains connected to the bolt at the converging ends of the beams and to the rear ends of the pilot-car as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a track-laying machine, the combination with the pilot-car provided with uprights at one end secured at the bottom to the frame of the fioor and the cross-bar spanning the top and provided with lower braces and upper converging bars or beams having a central bolt extending through the convergingpoint, of the crane supported at the inner end on the upright bars and suitably braced thereto and the endless carrier-chains passing over the side bars of the crane-frame, the supplemental cross-bar extending underneath the outer end of the crane, the hog-chains connected to the ends thereof and to the central bolt of the converging beams and the supplemental hog-chains connected to the bolt at the converging ends of the beams and to the rear ends of the pilot-car and the spreadingbars for separating the ends of the hog-chains as and for the purpose specified.

9. The combination with the elevated longitudinal bars and frames supporting the same on the pilot-car and the carrier-chains, of the delivery-crane extending forwardly of the pilot-car and supported on a suitable frame and suitably braced and a pivotal connection on such frame to the forward end of the pilot-car whereby a limited swing of the crane is provided for as and for the purpose specified.

10. The combination with the elevated longitudinal bars and frames supporting the same on the pilot-car and the carrier-chains, of the delivery-crane extending forwardly of the pilot-car and nsupported on a suitable frame and suitably braced, the uprights forming the end of the frame, the arc-shaped basepieces to which such uprights are secured at the bottom, the segmental slots in which such arc-shaped pieces are supported and have movement and means for swinging the segmental pieces in their slots, so as to swing the crane as and for the purpose specified.

ll. The combination with'the elevated longitudinal bars and frames supporting the same on the pilot-car, and the carrier-chains, of the delivery-crane extending forwardly of the pilot car and supported on a suitable frame and suitably braced, the uprights forming the end of the frame, the arc-shaped basepieces to which such uprights are secured at the bottom, the segmental slots in which such arc-shaped pieces are supported and have movement, the toothed rack attached to or secured to one of the segmental pieces, the worm meshing therewith and having the spindles suitably journaled and means for imparting a rotary motion to the worm as and for the purpose specified.

12. The combination with the elevated longitudinal bars and frames supporting the same on the pilot-car, and the carrier-chains,

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of the delivery-crane extending forwardly of the pilot-car and supported on a suitable frame and suitably braced, the uprights forming the end of the frame, the arc-shaped basepieces to which such uprights are secured at the bottom, the segmental slots in which such arc-shaped'pieces are/supported and have dles suitably jonrnaled, the Ystationary semimovement, the toothed rack attached to or secured to one of, the, segmentalpieces, the worm meshing therewith and having the spincircular bracket secured to thestationary portion of the elevated frame and provided with friction-rollers, th'e band secured'to the up-V right's forming the inner endof the crane and passing aroundand havingabearing on the rollers in thesemicircularstationary track or frame and the clamping-levers suitably supported y011 the stationary portion ofthe frame and designed to have the end bronght in con! tactwith the semicircular baras and for the purpose specified.l

13. The combination with the crane and the elevated longitudinalV bars and conveyer-V chains of the pilot-car suitably supported and driven, of the rail-cars provided with the longitudinal elevated bars and conveyer-chains and suitable conveying means between the cars from the ends of one longitudinal s et of bars to the other longitudinalset of bars, the

rearmost rail-carhaving the 4 inclined longitudinal bars and conveying-chains', and conveying means for feeding the ties from the tie-car onto the inclined conveying-chainsas and for vthe purpose specified.

l5. The combination With the longitudinal bars and the conveying-chains suitably elevated and supported andthe end sprocket- Wheels and spindles'thereof andmeans vfor driving the same, of the single sprocket-Wheel secured on the center ofthe end spindles and the carrier-chains connecting the same as and for the purpose specified. A

16. The combination with the longitudinal bars and the conveying-chains suitably elevated and supportedand the Vend sprocketwheels and spindles thereof and meansfor driving the same, of the singlesproeket-Wheel secured on the center of the end spin dles and the carrier-chain connecting thevsame and the projecting pieces extending from .the spindle of one set of sprocket- Wheels on the end of the car to the spindles of the sprocketwheels onthe end of the adjacent car as and for thepurpose specified.A

17. The combinationwith the rail-carand the inclinedlongitudinal ypieces on the end of the same and the 'carrier-chains carried on suitable end sprocket-Wheels having the spindles thereof suitably journaled in the ends, of the frame, of the tie-car having longitudinal bars and the supplemental longitudinal pieces extending upwardly from beneathlt-he level of the longitudinall bars of the tie-car to `a point above ythe level of the inclined longitudinal barson the rail-car and conveyer.- chains'on such longitudinalpieces and means for driving such chains'from a sprocket-wheel on the spindle of the sprockets of the carrierchains on'therail-car as and for the purpose specified. v 'I 18. In a device of the class described,v the combination with the ,tie-Garland the longitudinal supportirig-timbers for the ties on the tie-car, of the, sectional longitudinal pieces and meansfor vertically adjusting the same and the conveying-chains passing over the longitudinal sectional pieces and means for driving the saine as and forthe purpose specified. V19. In a device of the classfdescribed, the combination With the p ilot-carfand a central rail-delivery,l of a platformsuitably pivoted tothe'end of thecar sofas to swing laterally and means for limiting its movement and means for supporting the outer ends of the same as and for the purpose'specifled.`

20. In a device of the class described, the combination With the piloti-car anda crane pivotally swung at thetfront end thereofnpon a suitable frame, of the rail-delivery platform pivoted in the front of the car and means ifor limiting its movement and means for supporting the outer 'end of such platformfro'm the crane as and for the purpose specified.

21. In a device of kthe class described, the

combination with the pilot-car Vand a crane pivotally swung atthe front end thereof upon ya suitable frame, of a rail-delivery platform pivoted inV the frontof the car and means for limiting its `movement, and the elevis land chain for supporting the outer end of the raildelivery platform as and for ,the purpose specified.

22. The combination with the longitudinal bars and Yframe supporting the Same on the pilot-car and thecarrier-chains, of the del iv ery-crane extending forwardly of the pilotcar and supported on a suitable frameand suitably braced, the uprights forming the end of the frame, the pivotal connection between v such frame vand the car at the'front end o f such carand clamping meanso'n thepivotal end of theerane forholdingit in any position to which it may be swung as and for ,the pnrpose specified.

The @cinematica with the ioignndinai bars andframe supporting the same on the' pilotcar andfthecarrier-chains, of the; deliv- ICO ery-crane extending forwardly of the pilot- VVcar andV supported on a suitable frame rand suitably braced, the u prightsforming the end of the'frame, the pivotal connection between such frame andthe carat the front end of such car, the stationary elevated frame, the staytionary semicircular brackets secured thereto ehines having a platform provided with railsupporting cross bars located on opposite sides thereof, and a plurality of rail-conveying rollers having their ends journaled in said cross-bars, substantially as described.

HUGH MANN.

Witnesses:

L. TRIMBLE, R. SHIELDs. 

